Discussions on politics and other topics of interest in the Town of New Hartford, N.Y.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Public Hearing - Willowvale Fire Company Vote

Concerned Citizens feels that it is important to let residents of the Willowvale Fire Company know about the vote on the Service Awards Program on Tuesday, December 11, 2007. Therefore, we have decided to postpone until Monday further blogging of the FOILed documents like we initially planned to do. We want to make sure that taxpayers in the Willowvale District know about the public meeting...this is your chance to ask questions. Please let your friends and neighbors know of this public meeting and the vote on December 11, 2007.

Information regarding a public hearing can be found on the "official" town website. The public hearing date is December 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. The notice doesn't say specifically where, but we will assume at the Willowvale Firehouse. Concerned Citizens encourages all residents of the fire district to attend this meeting and ask questions.

Now, Concerned Citizens would like to turn our attention to the New Hartford Town Board. Perhaps you folks have not heard of the Hatch Act. For those of you that have not, we have copied a section of the "Official" U.S. Office of Special Counsel website:

Hatch Act for State and Local Employees

The Hatch Act applies to executive branch state and local employees who are principally employed in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or a federal agency....An employee’s conduct is also subject to the laws of the state and the regulations of the employing agency. Additionally, employees should be aware that the prohibitions of the Hatch Act are not affected by state or local laws.

Prohibited ActivitiesCovered state and local employees may not

be candidates for public office in a partisan election

use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the results of an election or nomination

directly or indirectly coerce contributions from subordinates in support of a political party or candidate

The "Official" town website...and the operative words are "official town"...SHOULD NOT be used to tell residents to vote "YES" on any issue. We appreciate the fact that finally, a little over a week before the vote, the town board in conjunction with the fire company has decided to give the taxpayers a chance to ask questions; however, anything posted on the "official" town website should be for "official" town business and information dissemination ONLY...not political campaigning. What will we see next...political signs on the town website for the re-election of Earle Reed, Dave Reynolds, Robert Payne and Roger Cleveland in 2009?

Perhaps someone should consult with the town attorney, although we know he doesn't like us telling him how to do his job, right Attorney Green? However, sometimes, one has to do what one has to do...